The visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Holy Metropolis of Monemvasia and Sparta came to an end as he departed from the Kalamata State Airport “Captain Vassilis Konstantakopoulos.”
Following the reception of an honorary doctorate from the Single-Department School of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences at the University of the Peloponnese, the Ecumenical Patriarch and his group left Sparta for Kalamata Airport. They then boarded a special flight back to Constantinople. Accompanying the Ecumenical Patriarch to Kalamata were Metropolitan Eustathios of Monemvasia and Sparta, along with a group of clergy and laity led by Bishop Theophilos of Lakedaimonia. Also in attendance were Metropolitans Theoktistos of Phocis and Chrysostomos of Mani, the Mayor of Sparta Michail Vakalopoulos, the Deputy Regional Governor of Laconia Theodoros Veroutis, and the Deputy Regional Governor for Spatial Planning and Property Management of the Peloponnese Region Spyros Tzinieris.
At Kalamata Airport, the Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia, the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Messinia, the Mayor of Kalamata Athanasios Vasilopoulos, the Mayor of Messini Georgios Athanasopoulos, the Deputy Regional Governor of Messinia Efstathios Anastasopoulos, as well as the Deputy Mayors and numerous members of the Kalamata Municipal Council.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his appreciation for the heartfelt farewell ceremony held in his honor, stating: “I came to Sparta at the invitation of the Metropolitan of Monemvasia and Sparta, my brother Eustathios, whom we in the Ecumenical Patriarchate hold in deep love and esteem.” He also mentioned his meeting with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the previous Monday. He thanked Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia, saying: “To all of you, led by my brother, the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Messinia, a precious brother, the distinguished hierarch and university professor, and to all the local dignitaries and clergy gathered here to bid us farewell, I express my warmest thanks, gratitude, and love. I leave you with my Patriarchal Blessing and wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.”
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia remarked, “It is an honor for all of us here in Messinia that His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch departs from here after the successful visit he made to the Holy Metropolis of Monemvasia and Sparta.” He also highlighted that “once again, the international status of our airport is confirmed when such distinguished personalities arrive and depart from here.” He concluded with the hope: “May we soon have the opportunity to meet him again, either here in our homeland or at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
